National geographics brothers in war doc vietnam veterans of. Charlie company and the massacre american experience. Charlie companys war in vietnam, by andrew wiest, osprey. The battalion was unique in that is was placed on barge firing. The 6th battalion, 31st infantry the polar bears was activated 1 nov 1967 at ft. After vietnam, the 9th infantry division was stationed at fort lewis, washington for the remainder of the cold war. Us army sniper program charlie company vietnam 19661972. The 9th infantry division old reliables was created as the 9th division during world war i, but never deployed overseas. Beginning in the mid1980s, the division served as the hightechnology testbed for the army.
Oct 05, 2010 of all the military assignments in vietnam, perhaps none was more challenging than the defense of the mekong river delta region. A case study in the operational level of war general hunt set about proving that the claims of the 9th infantry divisions brilliant performance in vietnam were founded on fact. History of the 9th infantry division old reliables. The 3rd of the 34th artillery was a towed 105mm howitzer battalion assigned to the 9th infantry division. Sep, 2012 this video is intended to honor the soldiers of charlie company, 4th, 47th, 9thinfantry division who fought and died protecting freedom in vietnam s treacherous mekong delta thoughout 1967. Dec 26, 2016 these are photos shared by veterans of the 3rd battalion, 39th infantry regiment of the 9th infantry division. This part series covers the history of vietnam from frances colonial control, through the 1945 revolution, to the 1975 u. Charlie company, 4th battalion, 47th infantry, of the 9th infantry division.
The following is taken from the bulletin of that day the predominate theme of the chapel of the cyrenian is the cross. In 19681969, 4 distinguished service crosses, 42 silver stars, 141 bronze stars wv device. These are the ones that survived many moves and even a house fire. Jun 25, 2012 the 9th infantry division old reliables was created as the 9th division during world war i, but never deployed overseas. After field hospital visit was confined to base camp. Charlie company vietnam 19661972 1st battalion, 22nd. Marine corps units that served during the time of the vietnam conflict, and includes the records of those units that served in vietnam as well as domestically and throughout the world. Armys 4th battalion, 47th infantry, 9th division was one of the last combat infantry companies to be drafted, trained and sent to war together, first deployed in the. Enlarge this series primarily consists of command chronologies of u. Army 196872 361st aerial weapons co unit history part 1. Remembering my pal bob french who was seriously wounded within 20 feet of my position during our ferocious june 19, 1967 battle near ap bac village in vietnams deadly mekong delta.
Jones or any other members who served with the same unit and times specified. Not just a story about the deadly battles that this unit fought in, the book also goes into detail about the makeup of charlie co. It took a joint effort to be successful in any aspect of the vietnam war. This well earned award came on december 12, 2010, 43 years following that horrific battle. The 339 infantry, 9th infantry division in vietnam. Soldiers who died in vietnam serving in the 2nd battalion, 60th infantry, 9th infantry division. Inactivated 16 march 1987 in korea and relieved from assignment to the 2d infantry division. The 9th infantry division old reliables is an inactive infantry division of the united states army. Heres a compelling glimpse into the life of doc maibach, one the boys of 67, who served with the 1st platoon, charlie company, 4th47th battalion, 9th infantry division in vietnams grueling mekong delta during 1967.
In vietnam, the men of charlie company soon became enmeshed in the. In later years, it would become an important unit of the u. The pictures were taken during the vietnam war in 1968 and 1969. Willie mctear, center, served in charlie company of the army 9th divisions 4th battalion, 47th infantry regiment during the vietnam war. Hackworth is known for his role in the creation and command of tiger force, a military unit which was formed in south vietnam. Live video of the fighting parental guidance advised. Just recently in the last 4 years i have reconnected with about 3540 guys i served with.
This site is dedicated to the fine men that served with charlie company 1st battalion, 22nd infantry regiment, 4th infantry division in vietnam from 1966 to 1972. Marines of the 3rd battalion, 4th marines, crouch in the cover of a pagoda entrance as their patrol moves through a village along the ben hai river in the southern sector of the dmz in. In the spring of 1966, while the war in vietnam was still popular, the us military decided to reactivate the 9th infantry division as part of the military buildup. Dong tam, the uss colleton mobile riverine force, binh phuoc, many fire support bases, and any place they parked their tracks for the night. Heres a wonderful story about the vietnam wars powmia bracelet program.
The idea was to get an outstanding training team from the marksmanship unit to train 9th infantry division soldiers in vietnam in sniper tactics. The 9th infantry division was the only us army division whose area of operation was the mekong delta. After training in the states, the men went to vietnam in january 1967 together on a troop ship. The army marksmanship unit team led by major willis l.
Based on hunts experience as colonel and division chief of staff, the volume documents how the 9th division s combat effectiveness peaked in 1969. Across the nation, farm boys from the midwest, surfers from california and cityslickers from cleveland opened their mail to find greetings from uncle sam. Operating deep within the viet congcontrolled delta, the 9th infantry division of the u. Most american soldiers of the vietnam era trickled into the war zone as. It was created as the 9th division during world war i, but never deployed overseas. Charlie company, first battalion, 20th infantry regiment, 11th infantry brigade, 23rd infantry division is comprised of five platoons three rifle and one weapons and one headquarters. It is with sadness that we must convey the news that tom veit passed away on march 31, 2006. Army was charged with protecting the area and its population against communist insurgents and ensuring the success of the south vietnamese governments pacification. Doc pardues international war veterans poetry archives 2nd60th. One company of the 4th of the 47th is the subject of andrew wiests wellwritten and wellresearched book, the boys of 67. Bell who served in the 3rd battalion, 12th infantry, 4th infantry division during vietnam from sept 1966 aug 1967.
The soldiers trained together in kansas and then left for vietnam together as a company in 1966. Please view and sign my guestbook the 9th infantry division guestbook. As you come into the chapel the leaning cross is immediately noticeable. Riley ks in early 1966 as part of the reactivation of the 9th infantry division for deployment to vietnam. Wiests firstrate book looked at a company of the 4th battalion, 47th infantry of the armys 9th infantry division the drafteeheavy unit.
The 3rd brigade remained in vietnam, under the control of the 25th infantry division, until october 1970 when it came home and the division was inactivated. Reorganized and redesignated 25 january 1963 as the 1st battalion, 9th infantry, and assigned to the 2d infantry division. Coffelt provided us with the names of more than 700 9th infantry division casualties identified down to the company batterytroop level which he has painstakingly researched for years. When the 160 men of charlie company 4th battalion47th infantry9th id were. Mikes video was taken in the summer of 1966 while on the road from southern california to fort riley, kansas.
Local vietnam vets featured in book about charlie company. Organized 1 june 1917 at syracuse, new york 47th infantry assigned 19 november 1917 to the 4th division inactivated 22 september 1921 at camp lewis, washington. Delta company, 1506 infantry, 101st airborne, vietnam march 68 to march 69. Dec 01, 2012 at fort riley, reynolds was assigned to charlie companys 2nd platoon, 4th battalion, 47th regiment, 9th infantry division. Our charlie company has written a book of our adventures. This membership applies for 9th infantry division vietnam veterans serving in combat or peace time this membership applies also for widows, spouses, lineal descendants and any other party interested in the history of the values of the ninth infantry division. Headquarters of the 3rd brigade, 9th infantry division at dong tam. Charlie company s war in vietnam andrew wiest chronicles the path that charlie company took to vietnam. Struck by tree trunk in aerial assault and air lifted out.
Constituted 15 may 1917 in the regular army as company b, 47th infantry. Infantry division, binh phuoc, south vietnam was dedicated on august 19, 1967. In the book wiest follows a group of men who were drafted into the reformed 9th infantry division. The members of the unit all entered the service at the same time, trained together, and went to vietnam together. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause.
Thus was charlie company, 4th of the 47th infantry born. David haskell hackworth november 11, 1930 may 4, 2005 also known as hack, was a prominent military journalist and a former united states army colonel who was decorated in both the korean war and vietnam war. Vietnam sniper, formerly howard kramers vietnam pictures. After six months of grueling training, the soldiers were shipped off.
Charlie companys war in vietnam andrew wiest chronicles the path that charlie company took to vietnam. Army 196872 361st aerial weapons co unit history part 2. Dec 27, 2012 the 9th infantry division fought in vietnam from 1967 to the summer of 1969, when the 1st and 2nd brigades were withdrawn. In the 9th infantry division bandido charlie company called several places in the delta of south vietnam home.
Brothers in war 9th division in vietnam cherrieswriter. This video is intended to honor the soldiers of charlie company, 4th, 47th, 9thinfantry division who fought and died protecting freedom in vietnam s. Elements of the 9th infantry division had served 1,440 days in vietnam. Company c, 25th infantry division, is helped to a waiting uh1d iroquois helicopter in vietnam, may 10, 1967, during the vietnam war. Of all the military assignments in vietnam, perhaps none was more challenging than the defense of the mekong river delta region. Assigned august 1968 charlie company 1st16th, 1st infantry division which became 5th60th, 9th infantry division. Ninth infantry division association 9th infantry division. E co, 75th inf abnrgr our unit history the history of the 9th infantry division long range patrol in viet nam from the activation in 1966 until today. Most of these chronologies include four common sections of information.
It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at fort dix, new jersey, and fort. What was so special about charlie company and the 9th infantry division during the vietnam war. When the 160 men of charlie company 4th battalion47th infantry9th id were drafted by the us army in may 1966, they were part of the wave of conscription. I served in 3rd platoon, charlie company, 6th of the 31st, 9th infantry division from october 1968 through august 1969 the pictures selected are fortyfour years old. For three years he conducted interviews with more than 60 veterans of youngs unit, charlie company of the 447th infantry part of the 9th division that was first deployed in the mekong delta in 1967. Always able active support this is the home of the best services in south vietnam. Sharon deehan, nurse charlie company honorary member. Nowhere is this inalienable truth more evident than in andrew wiests riveting tale that chronicles the transformation of charlie company, 4th battalion of the 47th infantry, 9th infantry division, from a seemingly disparate rabble to a hardened band of brothers. Wiest developed a friendship with the veteran as the months and years passed, continued to invite him to speak to his students, and in the course of this friendship learned about the veterans unit in vietnam. After a series of inactivations and activations spanning a 20year period, the 2nd battalion, 39th infantry regiment was reactivated on 1 february 1966 as part of the 9th infantry division at fort. I look forward to hearing from others who served with the 9th, especially those who served with the 247th. This face book page is dedicated to the men who served and died with the 4th47th infantry regiment of the 9th infantry division during the vietnam war.
The boys of 67 is a very good book recounting charlie co. Lynn crockett, charlie company, 4th47ths 1st sergeant, has been passing out. Raw video contributed by mike cramer 2nd platoon, charlie company, 4th47th, 9th infantry division. Only in one circumstance, though, was an entire division raised, drafted, and trained for service in the vietnam war.
Charlie company 5thbattalion 60th infantry association. Army was charged with protecting the area and its population against communist insurgents and ensuring the success of the south vietnamese governments pacification program. The 709th and 99th where proud to serve the 9th infantry division. Powell and consisting of seven noncommissioned officers arrived in vietnam in june 1968. Lewis and joined the 9th infantry division in vietnam as its last maneuver element. These are photos shared by veterans of the 3rd battalion, 39th infantry regiment of the 9th infantry division. Wounded in night ambush near the binh phuoc bridge 2669 in command post where dennis keith and rodney wise were lost god bless. My name is bob pries and i served with bravo company, 247th infantry, 9th infantry division, vietnam. For more information or to buy our book the battle for chu moor mountain click here. Coffelts assistance and are deeply grateful to him. Later, the division was an important unit of the united states army in. He served with recon platoon, 2nd60th, 9th infantry division in 196869. Assigned 16 april 1987 to the 7th infantry division and activated at fort ord, california. Articles related to 9th infantry division in vietnam.
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